1664. RB to Alfred Domett
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 9, 68–70.
New Cross,
July 31. 1844.
My dear Domett,
A ship sails to-morrow, [1] I see; and I must write a line or two, with all the old misery which years ago I attributed to one Sordello (do you remember him? I have not opened the book of his doings since I returned your copy—and all of it is clean gone). [2] I say, the misery I made him feel at “inadequate vehicles” [3] of feeling—of which this letter-writing always seemed to me the worst and is now got down to something absolutely horrible. I know nothing, next to nothing, about you—how you thrive, if you are well, or hope to get on, or get off—but I have all the old true love for you, and ever shall have. I got a newspaper a month ago [4] —(as did Arnould; but he will write—) and shall have a letter some day, please providence. Arnould let me look over a letter to him, which came to his great joy one day while, or just before, I was with him—so that I got your news, and in part your prospects and all those clever & graphic pictures of Nelson-life, [5] —and plenty of kind notices of me, in to the bargain. I see more of the Arnoulds than of old, and am more & more happy in their acquaintance & friendship. They were here only two or three days ago, and truly “your worship was the last man in our thoughts,” [6] for out of the coach-window did he renew his assurance that he would not let the “Caledonia” leave without a letter in charge. I don’t think I sent you a copy of my last play—“Colombe”—here you shall have it [7] —but I feel myself so much stronger, if flattery not deceive, that I shall stop some things that were meant to follow, and begin again .. I really seem to have something fresh to say. In all probability, however, I shall go to Italy first,—(Naples & Rome—) for my head is dizzy and wants change. [8] I never took so earnestly to the craft as I think I shall,—or may—for these things are with God.
A very interesting young Poet has blushed into bloom this season—I send you his “soul’s child” [9] —the contents were handed and bandied about, and Moxon was told by the knowing ones of the Literary Turf, that Patmore was “safe to win” [10] —so Moxon relented from his stern purpose of publishing no more verse on his own account, and did publish this .. whereat he looks somewhat biliously just now, for the prôneurs [11] and helping-hands aforesaid have unaccountably hung back of a sudden, and poor Patmore is, in a manner, “planté là” [12] .. only, of course, in the detestable trade sense of the word, for “Lilian” [13] could never be other than a great—and for a man of 20,—wonderful success under any circumstances. The Imitation of Tennyson is, rather, a choosing Tennyson’s “mode of the lyre”: [14] as who should say, hearing a mode was in favor, “I can adopt that, too”—but he will make more, & meddle less in good time, it is to be hoped. In society he is all modesty and ingenuousness. A certain Ebenezer Jones vented a wild book [15] —abounding in beauty, tho’– I want to get & send it to you. I read Horne’s book of which you must have heard or seen much in the Reviews. And now, having said nothing—and wishing you to consider these scratchings but as so many energetic “kickings of the feet,” (such as those by which John Lilburne “signified his meaning” when they gagged his jaws at the pillory—) [16] and that what they mean is “God bless you”—do remember me for
Yours ever,
RB.
All here are well, and send best regards and wishes to you. I noticed your Brother[’]s [17] fine energetic face at Chapel last Sunday. Dowson and his house I have not heard of lately—they being at Woodford.
Publication: RB-AD, pp. 105–108.
Manuscript: British Library.
1. The Times for 31 July announced the departure of the Caledonia for Wellington on 1 August.
2. Now at BL. See Reconstruction, C562 and E446.
3. Cf. Sordello, lines 653–654.
4. RB probably refers to a copy of The Nelson Examiner to which Domett was a frequent contributor. It had published Domett’s article about the Wairau affair in 1843 (see letter 1499, notes 2 and 3), as well as articles in which Domett had continued to express opposition to the local government. See The Diary of Alfred Domett, 1872–1885, ed. E.A. Horsman (1953), pp. 15–19.
5. Domett had settled in Nelson, a seaport in the N.W. part of the South Island of New Zealand.
6. The Merchant of Venice, I, 3, 60.
7. Now at Texas. See Reconstruction, E66.
8. RB sailed for Naples on 12 August. He visited Rome and Leghorn before returning to England in mid-December.
9. Cf. Shelley’s title “Epipsychidion.”
10. We have been unable to locate the source of this quotation.
11. “Boosters; extollers.”
12. “Standing there.”
13. “Lilian; a Poem for 1844” in Patmore’s Poems.
14. We have not located the source of this quotation.
15. Studies of Sensation and Event (1843) by Ebenezer Jones (1820–60). “It is hardly possible to say how excruciatingly bad he is now and then. And yet at his best … we must go among the very highest poetic names to match him” (DNB).
16. John Lilburne (1614?–57), accused of “the unlawful Printing and Publishing of Libellous and Seditious Books,” refused to take the oath when summoned before the Lords of Star Chamber, for which he was fined £500 and sentenced to be whipped, pilloried and imprisoned. On 18 April 1638 he “was whipped from the Fleet [Prison] to Palace Yard [Westminster]. When he was pilloried he made a speech denouncing the bishops … and … was finally gagged” (DNB).
17. John Domett (b. 1806).
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